Summary: As in many cities, in Mumbai we barely witness the passage of water from rain to sea via lakes, watersheds, pipes, pumps, pots, human and animal bodies, drains and sewers. However, residents in the slums of Jogeshwari, particularly in areas such as Sanjay Nagar where this footage was shot, find themselves without the former and trapped with the latter.

As part of an investigation into the social life of water in these areas, Pani Sare Dhaga Ma (Water is In All the Clouds) was a collaborative project between youth of two community organizations- Aakansha Sewa Sangh and Agaaz, with CAMP and led by the researcher Nikhil Anand. Working together since march 2008, they take us though questions of citizenship and distribution by looking at how residents form relationships with water and its infrastructures: including official water supplies, alternative plumbing, ground water, tanker politics, and so on.

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sarika: I want to do the recording. Chauri, Chauri, what is the name of this girl in the red dress, who is going to get water? Sister, sister, I will ask you a question, question me. (Instead of saying "answer me", Sarika says, "question me.")

Lady in red: What is the question?

(A lady in a yellow gown is seen passing by. Her name is Babita)

Sarika: Babita, I will ask you a question, answer me.

Babita: Keep your questions to yourself, move aside now.

Sarika: I want to learn. Really, I will ask questions.

Lady in orange: Move aside with your camera

Lady in Green: Are you really shooting or just lying?

Sarika: No, it is not a lie, I am really shooting.

(Chaotic commotion as people are filling water.)

Lady: Don't record our vessels, they are not washed.

?: Are you taking our picture?
The footage is shot at Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in the area of Sanjay Nagar in the Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. It is 4.30 in the evening and people are busy filling water from the BMC's (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) pipes. Nobody has the time to stop and talk. (for more information on the BMC, see http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/amenities/orgs/bmc.html].

According to Durga, a volunteer from the Aagaz group, the residents have extended the water pipes to their houses, but due to low water pressure, they still have to fetch water from the road outside. However, Shali states there are some residents lucky enough to get water from the taps situated right outside their homes. In this manner, the sight of blue barrels becomes common as they are used for storing water.

Hakim finds that despite the conditions of living in slums, people continue to observe their religions. This can be observed from the fact that even if the lane is narrow and there is not enough space for people to build heir own homes, the space is considered sufficient to build a temple and dedicate it to gods.

The public toilet which can be seen in this clip was built by local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly), Mr Suresh Shetty, though there is no provision of water inside the toilet. The footage is shot by a volunteer Sarika, from the Aagaz group.
Aagaz
BMC
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Sanjay Nagar
Suresh Shetty
pipes
slum
water
When beginning this project on recording and thinking about water, most of us looked immediately at pipes. As they appeared in and out of the ground we wondered where they would go next? What condition were they in? Did they give people water? Our world looked different through a camera lens. It also looked at us differently. News media print. The stories we heard were made for television.

Wet or dry, pipes tell stories. Who gets water at home? Who does not? At 4.30 people rush to collect water from pipes that are broken on their way to the Basti. Broken by residents themselves when the water in them would not reach their homes. Where municipal water does not come with force, people are forced to complete the journey with handas, pots and bottles.

Like in times past- where people would use handas, kalsis and other vessels to collect water from wells and springs that surround the area. They are still there and they still provide water for those with no other means. The present and past live in the same time and place. Our cameras leave the pipes for a while and travel and begin to take in other water, and talk to new sources. Because we see other possibilities through this investigation.

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is shot at Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in the area of Sanjay Nagar in the Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. It is 4.30 pm and people are busy filling water from the BMC's (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) pipes. Nobody has the time to stop and talk.

Due to the low water pressure in the pipes, the residents, with the permission of the BMC, have cut open the tap to access the water. As the legal connection of the water supply is generally shared by a group of residents, even in this chaos specific residents will fill a supply of water only from select pipes. A person belonging to one group cannot fill water from the pipes that belong to another group. Hence one can see distinct sets of groups in the footage.

There is another public toilet seen, built prior to the toilet built by Mr. Suresh Shetty, a local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly). This public toilet was the effort of former corporator, Ravindra Waikar. Along with the toilet, there is a set of water taps which has the water supply in the evenings. Though that connection belongs to no group, and no money is charged for the use of those taps, they are controlled by a women's wing of Shiv-Sena. They appear almost equivalent to a female mafia in their control of these taps as one needs to seek their permission before one can obtain water from those taps.

The road seems to be under renovation. In the midst of this chaotic situation, one cannot ignore the wastage of water that is taking place.
?: You won't come in the picture, go back.

Sarika: No, was the situation of water same when you had come here, or did this happened recently?

Man: It was the same earlier.

Sarika: Same, from the time you have come here.
Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is shot at Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in the area of Sanjay Nagar in the Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. It is 4.30 in the evening and people are busy filling water from the BMC's (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) pipes. Nobody has the time to stop and talk.

The only word that could be used to describe the footage is 'chaos.' And the residents appear amused, yet anxious due to the presence of a camera recording their movements. A lady in a yellow gown is seen filling water from more than one source, and seems to be in a hurry to fill the water for her household. One child constantly appears on screen with the packet of chips that he is in the process of eating.
BMC
Chaos
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Sanjay Nagar
water

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sarika: Since when have you been living here?

Lady: We have been staying here for the past twenty-two years.

Sarika: Was the situation of water the same when you had come here, or did this happened recently? Say, say.

Kid: Since 1952. We receive water like this.

Lady: Tell them (the government) to give us toilet and sanitation facilities.

Kid: Yes, we receive water only in the toilets.

Lady: Are you really recording this? Check it.

Sarika: I am recording this.

Kid: Datta uncle, I want to ask you a question.

Sarika: Datta uncle hasn't stayed here for long.

Kid: Where is the water? Is it in the cup, or in the tub?

Lady: That's it. Ask them also.

Kid: Where is the water? Is it in the cup, or in the tub?
The footage is shot at Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in the area of Sanjay Nagar in the Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. It is 4.30 in the evening and people are busy filling water from the BMC's (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) pipes. Nobody has the time to stop and talk.

There are two taps, also built by the MLA, outside the public toilet. The water in those taps begins at 4 am in the morning. But whoever wants to fill water from those taps has to pay a hundred rupees every month as a maintenance charge to a party worker who has the keys to the taps, which are otherwise kept locked. According to Durga, the water is supposed to be free; hence the money is pocketed by the party worker under the pretext of maintenance charges.

Sarika, the volunteer who is handling the camera, is asking one of the residents questions regarding the water problems they are facing. A passer by comments that they need more provision for sanitation and toilets. One child is trying to entertain everyone in front of the camera.

According to Durga, the residents, on seeing a camera, exaggerate the present issues and up their problems, as they seem to believe that it will be presented on a news channel.

Shali states that in most slums, open sewers are as common as those seen in this clip.
BMC
Jogeshwari
MLA
Mumbai
Sanjay Nagar
charge
maintenance
pipes
public
sewer
slum
taps
toilet
water

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see that apart from water tanks and barrels (drums) to store water, the residents also use the plastic bottles of soft drinks, or bottles of packaged water, especially for drinking purposes. The pipes which have been extended by the residents to reach their houses have dried up due to low water pressure. If there are any complaints regarding the water supply, the residents are meant to go to Mr Shailesh Parab, the present corporator, who belongs to the Shiv Sena party. [For more information on the Shiv Sena, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiv_Sena]
BMC
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika: If the pipe is shut from there, does the water come through the tap?

Lady in green sari: No.

Sarika: It doesn't come. No. When they will make roads over the pipes and shut it, what will you all do?

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Throughout the footage, it remains apparent that despite having taps in or just outside their houses, everyone is forced to meet in this common area to get their daily requirements of water. Hakim finds this almost ironic. Again we see the familiar sight of barrels being used as storage devices, kept outside the houses.
BMC
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Sanjay Nagar
barrels
connection
pipes
pressure
storage
tap
water

The well shown in the footage marks the exit point of Sanjay Nagar, and the entry point of Azad Nagar. Azad Nagar was earlier referred as Goni Nagar, the word goni referring to 'gunny bags,' or jute bags. Earlier, people built their houses of these jute bags, and hence the name Goni Nagar. But when people started constructed permanent concrete houses, the name of the area was changed to Azad Nagar, Azad meaning independent.

The well is approximately twenty-five years old. Back in the days when there was no direct water supply, people used to use the water from this well to fulfil their daily needs. But when the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) began to supply water through pipes, the use of the well started to decrease, eventually to the point where nobody uses the well anymore. Hence, the well has been covered and closed. However, there remain a few residents next to the well who use the well water to wash their houses and streets, and as a mixer for cement during construction.

Also, contrary to what the woman in the red sari says, the well has been closed for the past 5 - 6 years.
Azad Nagar
BMC
Goni Nagar
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika: Aunt, earlier people used to fill water from the well, didn't they?

Lady in red sari: Yes.

Sarika: They even used to wash clothes. Then why the well has been closed?

Lady in red sari: Didn't used to wash the clothes, used to drink the water.

Sarika: Then why the well has been closed?

Lady in red sari: The well has been closed because people's children were falling in.

Sarika: It means the well is too deep.

Lady in red sari: Yes.

Sarika: For how long has been the well closed?

Lady in red sari: Must have been around a year.

Sarika: One year. How long have you been staying here?

Lady in red sari: It has been four years since we came here.

Sarika: So you have been staying here for four years. Do you have to face any water problems?

Lady in red sari: There is not much of a problem here, though there is water problem above.

Sarika: Thank you.
gunny bags
pipes
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is shot in one of the by lanes in Azad Nagar. These lanes lead to a natural spring fountain. All along the way, one notices that outside every house, there is a tap. However most of these taps have dried up, owing to low water pressure in the pipes.

One can also see that the faucet of the taps have been removed in many of the cases, and the pipes are either closed with bolts or left open.
Azad Nagar
bolts
lanes
low
pipes
pressure
tap
water

Sarika: I mean, earlier there wasn't any wall constructed here. Or have you come here only recently?
The following footage depicts a discussion on the natural spring located in the area of Azad Nagar.

Forty or fifty years ago, the spring and well were the only sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring's water. There is a continuous flow of water, be it any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe in the wall from where they get spring water. Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst the trees and hills. The times may have changed, things around the spring have changed, buildings have been erected, concrete houses are built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils there. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring's water for every purpose other than drinking, preferring to use the BMC's water supply for the latter.

During festivals like Holi, where people play with colours, there is usually a huge crowd at the spring to wash of the colours off. Also, peak hour for the use of the spring falls normally either quite early in the morning, or later in the evening.

Durga states that people use a lot of soap and detergent when washing clothes or bathing at the spring, as compared to their use of the same in their respective homes. Durga is also worried about the fact that nothing is being done to store the spring water, or make it accessible to everyone. The water flows throughout the day, and the residents don't store the spring water like the the well water, as it tends to get oily if stored for a day or two. The water pressure of the spring has also significantly reduced during this period, and one fears that it will end up like the other well in the area - also a natural resource of water - but either dried up, or out of use.
Azad Nagar
BMC
Holi
Sanjay Nagar
Vaidu
bathing
concrete
houses
natural
peak
resources
space
spring
supply
tribe
washing
water
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The following footage has been shot by Sarika, a volunteer from Aagaz in Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar.

The footage is of one of the by-lanes in Azad Nagar. The lane will eventually lead to one more well in Azad Nagar.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika
Woman: Are you shooting the lane?

Sarika: No, not the lane. I am shooting the water pipes.

Woman: We face lot of difficulty for water; we don't get water.

Sarika: Aunt, was there any wall around the spring water earlier?

Woman: No.

Sarika: Then why there is a wall now?

Woman: I don't know who came and had built the wall near the spring and have messed it up.

Sarika: Earlier the water used to come fast...

Woman: They didn't do the right thing by building the wall.

Sarika: Do you know from where the water comes in the spring?

Woman: Huh?

Sarika: Do you know from where the water comes in the spring?

Woman: No, I don't know. It comes from the wall. Don't know from where the water comes and from where it doesn't.

Sarika: Thank you.

Women: Don't know whether the water is coming from the ground, or is the mountain water.

Sarika: Thank you.
pipes
spring
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The following footage has been shot by Sarika, a volunteer from Aagaz in Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar.

The footage is of one of the by-lanes in Azad Nagar. The lane will eventually lead to one more well in Azad Nagar.

A well is situated quite close to the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink the water from this well as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, now the water from the well is not used for drinking. Though, daily activities like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on filling the water from the well, everybody use the well's water. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika
lanes
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sardar boy: Ask me about water, I will tell you. Will it come on TV? On which channel?

Sarika: It won't come on TV, we are making a cassette of this.

Sardar boy: But, it should come on TV. What should I say?

Sarika: How old is this well?

Sardar boy: The well is eighteen - twenty, twenty years old.

Sarika: Twenty years. The well water is dirty from first, or it happened recently?

Sardar boy: The water is clean.

Sarika: No, it is dirty. There is garbage inside.

Sardar boy: What if there is garbage, the water is completely clean. Earlier people used to drink water from the well.

Sarika: And now?

Sardar boy: Now since there is tap water inside the house, it is only used for having bath. The water is clean. Some cook food in this water, if there is no (piped) water. The garbage gets collected.

Sarika: So when the garbage gets collected, does anyone clean it?

Sardar boy: It is not too deep, it is shallow. A man goes inside the well and cleans it, and so it gets clean.

Sarika: Thank you.

Sardar boy: Ask about that sewer. It should come.

Sarika: Okay, about the sewer - tell me, for how long has it been...? I mean, is the sewer this big from start, or was it made big?

Sardar boy: From start.

Sarika: From start.

Sardar boy: Earlier it was bigger than this, now they have reduced it.

Sarika: The sewer was bigger than this.

Sardar boy: It was a bit bigger than this. And in monsoons, when the sewer overflows, it leaks in everybody's houses.

Sarika: Houses.

Sardar boy: This much water accumulates in everybody's houses.

Sarika: Is it so?

Sardar boy: Yes, water from the sewer.

Sarika: I mean, the people living next to the sewer, have they been staying there from the start, or recently?

Sardar boy: Everybody from the start

Sarika: From the start.

Sardar boy: From the start, no one recently. It has improved. Earlier the sewer and the road were at the same level. Now the roads are lifted up and the sewer is pushed down.

Sarika: Thank you.

Sardar boy: Give an interview, aunt. Aunt, giver her an interview. Ask something to her also. She had asked me, that is why I am telling it to you.

Sarika: How long have you been living here?

Woman: I have been staying here since the past fifteen years.

Sarika: Fifteen years. Do you about the natural spring?

Woman: The natural spring causes a lot of trouble, the water flows on non-stop. During monsoons, some people often get drowned.

Sarika: The natural spring causes trouble to the public?

Woman: Yes.

Sarika: So, is the water good or bad?

Woman: The water looks clean, but we don't know from where it comes from, or how it is; all of these we don't know. The water keeps falling.

Sarika: Did you all used to drink water from the spring?

Woman: Earlier we used to drink water from the spring. But since the taps have been installed, the area is improving, we have been drinking tap water only. But before this, we used to drink the water from the spring.
The following footage has been shot by Sarika, a volunteer from Aagaz group in Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

Hakim feels the need to reiterate the fact that people do exaggerate their circumstances, and are excited by the sight of a camera recording.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika
barrels
bathing
exaggerate
restrictions
spring
tanks
washing
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The following footage has been shot by Sarika, a volunteer from Aagaz group in Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody canuse the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store required amount of drinking water.

Hakim feels the need to reiterate the fact that people do exaggerate their circumstances, and are excited by the sight of a camera recording. They also occasionally react by refusing to comment, fearing some sort of police set-up.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Sanjay Nagar
Sardar boy: Aunt, give interview; they will show it on news. Aunt, answer - for how long you have been living over here?

Sarika: Aunt, will you give me some information regarding the well?

Woman: I, myself don't know anything. What am I going to tell you? Only they can tell you.

Sarika: I think they are sleeping. Fine, just give me some information.

Sardar boy: It is for the news, not for police station.

Woman: You tell her.

Sardar boy: I've already said, the aunt over there also gave some information.

Sarika: How long have you been living over here?

Woman: I've been living here since the past eighteen years.

Sarika: So, did the well existed when you came, or was it built afterwards?

Woman 2: It was built when we came here.

Sarika: You mean there was no well before that?

Woman 2: No, then it wasn't there. When we came it wasn't there. It was built after we came here.

(Women chattering among themselves)

Sarika: Earlier the well was like a small well.

Woman 2: At first, it was like a well made of mud. It was then that the concrete plaster was built alongside the well.

Sarika: So you all had contributed and gathered money to built the well.

Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
MNS
Maharashtra
Sanjay Nagar
Sarika
Sena
The following footage has been shot by Sarika, a volunteer from Aagaz group in Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar.

The footage shows a lane near the well in Azad Nagar. There is a sewer which passes underneath the bridge. The sewer looks big with the backdrop of the small houses around it. A bridge connecting the two sides of the lane has been built by Maharashtra Nav-Nirman Sena (MNS) party. Also, the main road which at the end of the lane has another sewer underneath it. There are both, iron and concrete steps built in order to allow people to access the main road.
bridge
sewer

Girl in blue dress: Am I visible?

Woman in red sari: What is it?

Girl in blue dress: Gon, Gon.

Woman in red sari: What are you doing?

Durga: Hey. Don't do anything.

Girl in blue dress: What is this, Gon? Is it for the sewer?

Durga: You will tell me information about the pit.

Girl in blue dress: Wasn't the pit here? Yes, see, the pit was here.

Durga: We girls used to have a bath near the pit. Will you say all this?

Girl in blue dress: Now.

Durga: Yes, now stand there and say it with gestures and all.

Girl in the blue dress: The pit used to be here.

Durga: Say it in Hindi.

Girl in blue dress: What do I say in Hindi? We used to have a bath here.

Durga: After filling the water or before?

Girl in blue dress: After filling the water, we used to have a bath here.

Durga: Who used to have a bath here?

Girl in blue dress: We girls used to have a bath here.

Durga: Everyone?

Girl in blue dress: Yes.

Durga: So, how did you all enjoy?

Girl in blue dress: We used to have a bath between midnight and 1 am.

Durga: At what time the water used to come then?

Girl in blue dress: The water used to come in the evening, between 5 pm till around 11 at night.
Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The clip shows Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in Sanjay Nagar and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from Aagaz group.

We see barrels (drums) outside everybody's house, that are used to store water. One of these barrels is placed next to a tap, once used by a group of people, but now abandoned due to its low water pressure. We see that in order to access the water, the pipe has been cut and a makeshift pit has been made around this area for people to fill the requirements of water.

Durga says that when she was a ten or twelve year old, she and her friends used to bathe alongside the pit. At that point, the timing the water supply began at was between 10 - 11 pm; hence they used to have a bath at around midnight. The time for a bath had to coincide with the availability of water; such was their relation with water.

One can hear loud music being played in the background in the chawl (lane).
Aagaz
Durga
Sanjay Nagar
barrels
connection
drums
supply
tap
water

Man: I stay in the next lane.

Durga: Then how long have you been staying here?

Man: I have been staying in here since childhood; I was born here.

Girl in blue dress: And what about the water?

Man: The water which comes is good. Only I get the water, nobody else does.

Girl in blue dress: Say it properly.

Man: I get water in my tap, others don't get water in their taps. My tap is holy.

Durga: Holy tap.

Man: And everybody here lives in peace, nobody creates a ruckus or fights; we are good people.

Girl in blue dress: And about this pipe...

Man: Nobody who lives here drinks; everybody are good people.

Girl in blue dress: Whatever he said has double meaning to it.
Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is of Sai Krupa chawl (lane) in Sanjay Nagar. Durga, the volunteer, from Aagaz group is conducting an informal interview with one of the residents, regarding the water supply in Sanjay Nagar and the surroundings. The person being interviewed looks very excited as he describes the area and supply of water in a very humorous way, laced with sarcasm. According to Durga, the man means exactly the opposite of what he is saying.
Aagaz
Durga
Sanjay Nagar
pipe
sarcasm
supply
water

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is of one of the by lanes in Sanjay Nagar and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from the Aagaz group.

The majority of the population living in Sanjay Nagar belongs to the Vaidu tribe, who were nomads. Today the main profession of men in these tribes is making tin containers. This is the reasons they are also referred to as 'dabbawalas' i.e Container-makers. The women in these tribes also work as hawkers selling day-to-day items like cutlery, pins, combs, etc. They travel quite far into the suburbs of Mumbai daily to sell their wares, and earn anywhere between Rs. 100-150 per day.

In India, there are many communities where in a person's surname describes the work he does or his fore-fathers used to do, like kaanchwala for people who deal in glass works (kaanch meaning glass). One finds the majority of these sorts of surnames in the Parsi and Bohra Muslim community.
Aagaz
Bohra
Dabbawala
Durga
Durga: Move back.

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
This is footage of Azad Nagar, a settlement next to Sanjay Nagar and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from Aagaz group.

The well shown in the footage marks the exit point of Sanjay Nagar, and the entry point of Azad Nagar. Azad Nagar was earlier referred to as Goni Nagar, the word goni meaning 'gunny bags' or jute bags. Earlier people built their houses out of jute bags, and hence the name Goni Nagar. But when people started constructed permanent concrete houses, the name of the area was changed to Azad Nagar, wherein Azad means independent.

The well is approximately twenty-five years old. Back in the days when this area lacked a direct water supply, people used to the water from this well to fulfil their daily needs related to water. But when the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) began to introduce the system of using pipes to transport water, the use of well-water decreased to the point where hardly anyone uses the well any more. Hence, the well has been covered and closed. However, there are a few residents next to the well who use the well water for cleaning and washing their houses and streets, and for mixing the cement used in construction.

The lane from by the well leads us to a natural spring. Forty - fifty years ago, the spring and well were the only sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring water, but there is a continuous flow of water in any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe in the wall at the point where the spring water gushes out.

Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst trees and hills. However, times have changed, things around the spring have changed, buildings have been erected, concrete houses have been built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. Even today, People living in the close proximity to the spring wash their clothes and utensils over there. Due to a lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring water for every purpose other than as a provision for drinking water, preferring to use the BMC's water supply instead.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Goni Nagar
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
bags
cleaning
construction
gunny
pipes
supply
washing
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Durga: Aunt, don't you all use that pipe?

Lady washing clothes: Yes, we don't.

Durga: You all don't use that pipe. But earlier it wasn't like this, was it? Water used to come there. Who closed this?

Lady washing clothes: I don't know. They must have done it.

Durga: Was this closed by some party (political)?

Lady washing clothes: Don't know. We just come here to wash clothes.

Durga: How long it has been since the water started coming here?
The following footage is of a natural spring in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years ago, the spring and well were the only sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring's water. There is a continuous flow of water, be it any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe in the wall from where they get spring water. Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst the trees and hills. The times may have changed, things around the spring have changed, buildings have been erected, concrete houses are built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils there. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring's water for every purpose other than drinking, preferring to use the BMC's water supply for the latter.

During festivals like Holi, where people play with colours, there is usually a huge crowd at the spring to wash of the colours off. Also, peak hour for the use of the spring falls normally either quite early in the morning, or later in the evening.

Durga states that people use a lot of soap and detergent when washing clothes or bathing at the spring, as compared to their use of the same in their respective homes. Durga is also worried about the fact that nothing is being done to store the spring water, or make it accessible to everyone. The water flows throughout the day, and the residents don't store the spring water like the the well water, as it tends to get oily if stored for a day or two. The water pressure of the spring has also significantly reduced during this period, and one fears that it will end up like the other well in the area - also a natural resource of water - either dried up, or out of use.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Holi
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Vaidu
lack
natural
source
space
spring
store
supply
tribe
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Lady washing clothes: At first we didn't have piped water, hence we used to drink water from here itself. Used to work here.

Durga: Okay.

Man: what are you doing this for?

Durga: This is for my college project. I have to do research on water. It is for a duration of three months, hence I am making a documentary film on water.

Man: Are you going to show the film to the public?

Durga: No, I am not going to show the film to the public; this project is a part of my exam.
The following footage is of a natural spring located in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years ago, the spring and well were the only sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring's water. There is a continuous flow of water, be it any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe in the wall from where they get spring water. Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst the trees and hills. The times may have changed, things around the spring have changed, buildings have been erected, concrete houses are built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils there. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring's water for every purpose other than drinking, preferring to use the BMC's water supply for the latter.

During festivals like Holi, where people play with colours, there is usually a huge crowd at the spring to wash of the colours off. Also, peak hour for the use of the spring falls normally either quite early in the morning, or later in the evening.

Durga states that people use a lot of soap and detergent when washing clothes or bathing at the spring, as compared to their use of the same in their respective homes. Durga is also worried about the fact that nothing is being done to store the spring water, or make it accessible to everyone. The water flows throughout the day, and the residents don't store the spring water like the the well water, as it tends to get oily if stored for a day or two. The water pressure of the spring has also significantly reduced during this period, and one fears that it will end up like the other well in the area - also a natural resource of water - either dried up, or out of use.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Holi
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Vaidu
lack
natural
source
space
spring
store
supply
tribe
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The following footage is of a natural spring located in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Durga, a volunteer from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years ago, the spring and well were the only sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring's water. There is a continuous flow of water, be it any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe in the wall from where they get spring water. Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst the trees and hills. The times may have changed, things around the spring have changed, buildings have been erected, concrete houses are built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils there. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring's water for every purpose other than drinking, preferring to use the BMC's water supply for the latter.

During festivals like Holi, where people play with colours, there is usually a huge crowd at the spring to wash of the colours off. Also, peak hour for the use of the spring falls normally either quite early in the morning, or later in the evening.

Durga states that people use a lot of soap and detergent when washing clothes or bathing at the spring, as compared to their use of the same in their respective homes. Durga is also worried about the fact that nothing is being done to store the spring water, or make it accessible to everyone. The water flows throughout the day, and the residents don't store the spring water like the the well water, as it tends to get oily if stored for a day or two. The water pressure of the spring has also significantly reduced during this period, and one fears that it will end up like the other well in the area - also a natural resource of water - either dried up, or out of use.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Durga: Do you know where does this water come from?

Man: I don't know anything. The water has been coming for fifty years, but don't know from when and where the water comes from.

Durga: The water is coming since past fifty years.

Man: Yes, everybody says it has been there for past fifty years.

Man 2: Have you been staying here for past fifty years?

Man: No.

Man 2: Then how are you saying this?

Lady in sari: Now, he is saying what he has heard. He knows it, that is why he is saying it. Yes, it is right.

Man 3: Earlier, people used to bring their buffaloes and bathe them here.

Lady in sari: No, the water has been coming since many years, it is not that the water started coming from today onwards. He is saying right (correctly), he is not saying anything wrong. Earlier people used to drink this water.

Man 3: At first, when there was no tap water, people used to drink water from here.

Lady in sari: Tap water started recently, earlier people used to drink this water.
Holi
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Vaidu
lack
natural
source
space
spring
store
supply
tribe
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The following footage shows a natural spring located in Azad Nagar. Hakim agrees with Durga on her point that someone needs to ensure that the water is not wasted, and a proper storage or distribution method should be adopted in order to save the natural resource, as well as liberating the people of the neighbouring areas of their water shortage issues.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody canuse the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store required amount of drinking water.

At the beginning of this clip, one can also see a water meter near the spring, generally used for monitoring the usage of piped water.
Azad Nagar
Durga
Jogeshwari
barrels
bathing
distribution
drinking
liberating
meter
moping
natural
pipe
resource
shortage
spring
storage
tanks
washing
wasted
water
well

Lady in yellow sari: She got married, also has a son; it has been a year.

Durga: She even has a son.

Lady in yellow sari: Yes. What are you doing?

Durga: This is my college project. I have been staying here, hence I was asked to shoot the spring, and well in this area. Pratibha didn't study further?

Lady in yellow sari: She did her tenth standard. After doing her tenth, she was at home.

Durga: And the other one (the lady's son)?

Lady in yellow sari: He did his twelfth and is now working.

Durga: Give me some information about this well. How old is the well?

Lady in yellow sari: It has been twenty years.

Durga: Twenty years.

Lady in yellow sari: It has been there from the time we came here to stay.

Durga: Do people use the well water for drinking purpose?

Lady in the yellow sari: Not for drinking purpose. Since the tap water has started, people do not drink the well water. Earlier they used to.

Durga: Okay, they don't. Earlier people used to fill water from here. When did the tap water start?

Lady in yellow sari: It has been ten - twelve years.

Durga: Ten - twelve years. Do people get water supply regularly?

Lady in yellow sari: No.

Durga: No.

Lady in the yellow sari: There is no water in the taps.

Durga: There is no water
We see a well in Azad Nagar.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

Hakim feels that the people here lack education. Child marriage is a social evil, which Indians have been trying to fight for a long time. In this footage, Durg, discovers, that her friend who she went to school with, was married at the age of seventeen and also has a child. Another aspect of the conversation reveals the issue of equality in terms of the level of education provided to both, boys and girls. The women married her daughter off at an early age, but allowed her son to study further.

Durga feels that the women exaggerated her problems with the water supply, as she was being recorded on camera. Durga mentions that people in Azad Nagar do not have to face water problems due to the presence of the well and the spring.
Azad Nagar
Child marriage
Durga
Jogeshwari
barrels
bathing
drinking
education
equality
evil
exaggerated
gender
issue
lack
moping
restrictions
social
spring
storage
tanks
washing
water
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is of a well in Azad Nagar.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

Hakim feels that the people here lack education. Child marriage is a social evil, which Indians have been trying to fight for a long time. In this footage, Durg, discovers, that her friend who she went to school with, was married at the age of seventeen and also has a child. Another aspect of the conversation reveals the issue of equality in terms of the level of education provided to both, boys and girls. The women married her daughter off at an early age, but allowed her son to study further.

Durga feels that the women exaggerated her problems with the water supply, as she was being recorded on camera. Durga mentions that people in Azad Nagar do not have to face water problems due to the presence of the well and the spring.
Azad Nagar
Child marriage
Durga
Durga: Do you know about the spring water? Where does the water come from?

Lady in yellow sari: I don't know about the spring water, though the water from the spring is clean.

Durga: Yes, it is very clean.

Lady in the yellow sari: The water is very clean. When there was no water here, we used to drink that water.

Durga: But nobody knows about the water from the spring, or from where it comes.

Lady in the yellow sari: No, if the water had been coming from ground, it would have been hard water, dirty water. But it is nothing like that; the water is very clean.

Durga: I think there would have been a pipe line of water.

Lady in the yellow sari: No, it is not the water from the pipe line.

Durga: Pipe lines, the big water pipes used for supplying water would have passed through there and maybe it's leaked or burst.

Lady in the yellow sari: No, no. The water gets germs, if kept for two days and more.

Durga: Is it so?

Lady in the yellow sari: The water is good for everyday use.

Durga: The water should be changed every day.

Lady in the yellow sari: Yes, every day.

Durga: The well would be full during monsoons, wouldn't it?

Lady in the yellow sari: No, it remains the same. The well water is used for washing clothes, utensils, washing vegetables and rice.

Durga: It is used for everything. The water looks clean.

Lady in the yellow sari: Yes, the water is clean. The well is cleaned regularly.

Durga: Does anyone come to clean the well?

Lady in the yellow sari: No one comes to clean the well. Men from here, climb down the well and clean it. We use the well water for everything except drinking. For drinking purposes, we fill two pitchers of tap water.

Durga: What is the timing for the tap water?

Lady in the yellow sari: The water comes around 5 - 5.30.

Durga: So, the water comes.

Lady in the yellow sari: But we don't use the tap water much.

Durga: You all don't keep barrels, (drum) etc, for storage purposes? Everything must be from the well. Even for bathing?

Lady in the yellow sari: No, bathing, washing clothes, utensils, washing rice and vegetables, all is taken care of with the water from the well.

Durga: It's nice, that it it (well) is near. Have you been ever bothered by the well?

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is of a well in Azad Nagar, shot by Wasim, a volunteer of the Aagaz group.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

The residents near the well have let in a turtle and few fish, so that the well is free from bacteria and germs. The turtle and fish eat any bacteria or germs in the water, and also maintain its oxygen levels.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Jogeshwari
Wasim
bacterias
barrels
bathing
drinking
fishes
germs
moping
oxygen
restrictions
storage
tanks
turtle
washing
water
well

PPF

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage depicts an open ground in Sanjay Nagar, and is shot by Nikhil Anand. The ground, now is used as a garbage dump by the people in the neighbourhood, was previously like a small forest, with wild shrubs and wild berry trees. Twenty to thirty years back, the ground was also used as a toilet since there was no sanitation facility available then, with one part of the ground used by the men, and another part was used by the women.

We can also see the formation of a water body like a pond, now polluted by garbage. Previously, the water here was used by the locals for sanitation purposes, but is currently only used by the pigs for drinking. The drain which carries human waste from the public toilet ends near the pond, dumping all the waste into it. Hakim assumes that the pollution level in the Mithi river that flows in many parts of Mumbai must be astronomical, if a small water formation is polluted to this level only by dumping garbage in it.

Durga felt nostalgic, reminiscing about when they used to come to this ground as children to catch tadpoles, assuming they were fishes, and plucking wild berries from the trees. Since they could not afford fireworks during Diwali, they used to search for them in the garbage discarded by the residents of the neighbouring building. They also used to search for pictures in the garbage, to place them in a scrap book, as it was their Diwali home-work.

Durga also noted that the pigs who roam in the area are reared by some of the residents of Sanjay Nagar for their meat, or offered as sacrifices to the deities. The owners often cuts off an ear or the tail of the pigs for identification purposes. The ground was also a hub for the resident who enjoy playing cards, gambling, and drinking liquor; this activity has ceased as the property is now owned by a builder and is looked after by two or three guards. It was least heard that the builder is building a park on the ground for residents of nearby buildings.

Also, one cannot miss the excitement on the faces of some of the children on seeing the camera. The ground plays host to number of people from the neighbouring areas for flying kites during the festival of Makarsankranti. (the kite-flying festival)
Diwali
Durga
Makarsankranti
Mithi
Mumbai
Nikhil Anand
Sanjay Nagar
berry
builder
crackers
deities
facility
fishes
forest
gambling
garbage
ground
guards
kites
liquor
pigs
polluted
pond
public
river
sacrifice
sanitation
shrubs
tadpoles
toilet
waste
water
wild

Diwali
Durga
Makarsankranti
Mithi
Mumbai
Nikhil Anand
Sanjay Nagar
Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage depicts an open ground in Sanjay Nagar, and is shot by Nikhil Anand. The ground, now is used as a garbage dump by the people in the neighbourhood, was previously like a small forest, with wild shrubs and wild berry trees. Twenty to thirty years back, the ground was also used as a toilet since there was no sanitation facility available then, with one part of the ground used by the men, and another part was used by the women.

We can also see the formation of a water body like a pond, now polluted by garbage. Previously, the water here was used by the locals for sanitation purposes, but is currently only used by the pigs for drinking. The drain which carries human waste from the public toilet ends near the pond, dumping all the waste into it. Hakim assumes that the pollution level in the Mithi river that flows in many parts of Mumbai must be astronomical, if a small water formation is polluted to this level only by dumping garbage in it.

Durga felt nostalgic, reminiscing about when they used to come to this ground as children to catch tadpoles, assuming they were fishes, and plucking wild berries from the trees. Since they could not afford fireworks during Diwali, they used to search for them in the garbage discarded by the residents of the neighbouring building. They also used to search for pictures in the garbage, to place them in a scrap book, as it was their Diwali home-work.

Durga also noted that the pigs who roam in the area are reared by some of the residents of Sanjay Nagar for their meat, or offered as sacrifices to the deities. The owners often cuts off an ear or the tail of the pigs for identification purposes. The ground was also a hub for the resident who enjoy playing cards, gambling, and drinking liquor; this activity has ceased as the property is now owned by a builder and is looked after by two or three guards. It was least heard that the builder is building a park on the ground for residents of nearby buildings.

Also, one cannot miss the excitement on the faces of some of the children on seeing the camera. The ground plays host to number of people from the neighbouring areas for flying kites during the festival of Makarsankranti. (the kite-flying festival)
berry
builder
crackers
deities
facility
fishes
forest
gambling
garbage
ground
guards
kites
liquor
pigs
polluted
pond
public
river
sacrifice
sanitation
shrubs
tadpoles
toilet
waste
water
wild

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Durga: Earlier the water used to come from up there. What? You have been staying here? But this wasn't like this before?

Girl: No, it had been made recently.

Durga: Recently. Earlier the water used to come from there. Is this water used for drinking? Do people drink this water?

Girl: Yes.

Durga: But where does this water come from?

Girl: I don't know about this.

Durga: Earlier a lot of people used to wash their clothes over here? Hasn't the number of people washing clothes here reduced?

Girl: Now everybody has the tap in their houses.

Durga: So, now no one drinks this water?

Girl: Even now, if filtered, this water can be used for drinking.

Durga: Where does this water go from here?

Girl: Should've gone towards the highway.

Durga: Okay.
The following footage is of a natural spring located in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Wasim, Sohail, and Durga, all volunteers from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years back, the spring and the well were the only natural sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring water, although there is a continuous flow of water in any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe into the wall from where the spring water comes.

Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst trees and hills. Times changed and things around the spring has changed; buildings were erected, concrete houses were built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in the close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils in this water. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring water for every purpose other than for the provision of drinking water. They fulfil the need for drinking water through the BMC's water supply. However, the girl being interviewed by Durga says that if the water were to be filtered properly, it could be used for drinking purposes.

The tank-like structure has recently been constructed to store the water. However, since the flow of the water is continuous, the tank used to overflow. Hence, another pipe was connected to the pipe in the tank, and the water not collected in the tank flows through the pipe.

Shali, a volunteer from the Aagaz group, commented that none of the people they have asked know where the water originates from. The wall located behind it has many holes with pipes in it, which previously supplied water, but are now dry.

Durga commented that the place where the water originates was a mountain decades ago, and the water used to come from it. The mountain was removed to make way for buildings.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Shali
Sohail
Vaidu
Wasim
filtered
natural
origin
pipe
sources
spring
tank
tribe
water

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Durga: The picture that is placed there is a superstition. There, on top. People said that earlier ghosts roamed in this place, hence the picture was placed here. So people had this superstition. The picture is there since eighteen years.

Wasim: Just like this.

Durga: Yes, it has been kept there because ghosts used to come.

Sohail: Was that tile made eighteen years ago?

Durga: What?

Wasim: Was the tile made eighteen years ago? Or it was earlier something else, and now is something different?

Durga: No, it was the same. This water had two outlets, one of which was used for drinking and the other was not used for drinking. The water in both the outlets was same, but people had this false belief. And that is why they don't use it.

Sohail: Sister, you use this water to wash clothes. Does the water have any bad effect on the clothes?

Woman: No. (?), how dirty could the water be?

Wasim: There is nothing in this water, which could spoil the clothes?

Woman: No.

Durga: But do you have any idea about where this water comes from?

Woman: Don't know.

Durga: Some say that the water comes from the building.

Woman: No.

Durga: But the water in the spring has been coming way before the building was constructed. Some say that this water is from a pipeline which has burst, and people use it to drink as well as for the spring. It is like this. Now, I don't know how is it. And this wall right here. Even this wasn't there earlier, it was constructed recently.
The following footage shows a natural spring located in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Wasim, Sohail, and Durga, all volunteers from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years back, the spring and the well were the only natural sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring water, although there is a continuous flow of water in any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe into the wall from where the spring water comes.

Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst trees and hills. Times changed and things around the spring has changed; buildings were erected, concrete houses were built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in the close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils in this water. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring water for every purpose other than for the provision of drinking water. They fulfil the need for drinking water through the BMC's water supply. However, the girl being interviewed by Durga says that if the water were to be filtered properly, it could be used for drinking purposes.

Durga states that the tile placed near the spring, which has a picture of goddess Durga on it, is proof of the superstitious beliefs of the people in the area. People placed the tile there as they thought it would keep the evil spirits and ghosts away. Shali suggests that perhaps by placing the picture of the goddess, people were able to rid themselves of the false belief that evil spirits and ghosts visited or existed in and around the spring.

Hakim feels that the faith that people have in religion and God cannot be questioned, even if one does not share the same belief. The picture may have been kept there by someone, but nobody has thought to remove it. Although no one has noticed any paranormal activities, the picture of the goddess still rests in that place.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Shali
Sohail
Vaidu
Wasim
belief
evil
faith
filtered
ghosts
goddess
natural
paranormal
pipe
sources
spirits
spring
superstition
tank
tribe
water

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail: Is this water same as the other one?

Woman: Yes.

Durga: The water just keeps flowing continuously; there is no stop to it.

Sohail: Didn't the people around here bother to try and conserve the water? How much of the water gets wasted?

Woman: No, what can one do?

Durga: Take his picture.

Sohail: We are not taking pictures, we are recording.

Durga: Also record him, the boy who is washing.

Sohail: What is the boy washing?

Durga: Take the video of this guy.

Wasim: The water cannot be dirty.

Sohail: Can you drink this water?
The following footage shows a natural spring located in Azad Nagar, and is shot by Wasim, Sohail, and Durga, all volunteers from the Aagaz group.

Forty or fifty years back, the spring and the well were the only natural sources of water for the residents of Sanjay Nagar, Azad Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Nobody knows the origin of the spring water, although there is a continuous flow of water in any season. For the sake of convenience, people have inserted a pipe into the wall from where the spring water comes.

Decades ago, the area had only few families of the Vaidu tribe living here, amidst trees and hills. Times changed and things around the spring has changed; buildings were erected, concrete houses were built around it, but the water from the spring has never stopped or dried up. People living in the close proximity to the spring, even today, wash their clothes and utensils in this water. Due to the lack of space, some residents even bathe there. People use the spring water for every purpose other than for the provision of drinking water. They fulfil the need for drinking water through the BMC's water supply. However, the girl being interviewed by Durga says that if the water were to be filtered properly, it could be used for drinking purposes.

The water from the spring keeps on flowing; there is no storage to preserve the spring water. The pressure with which the water used to flow earlier has reduced over the period, one fears that it will end up like the other well in the area - also a natural resource of water, but no longer in use.

Durga states that there is a ground near the spring where the children come to play cricket. These children often come to the spring to clean themselves up before going to their houses.

Shali says that humans tend to judge things by their appearance. She says that while the water from the spring was used for drinking when there were hills and spring water was considered natural without any doubts, people used it without compunction. However, when a pipe was inserted to get an even flow, people assumed it was from a pipeline or some other source, and no longer used the water for drinking purposes.

The lane at the end of the clip leads to a well in Azad Nagar which is used by the people for everything but drinking water.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
BMC
Durga
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Shali
Sohail
Vaidu
Wasim
appearance
cricket
filtered
natural
origin
pipe
preserve
sources
spring
storage
tank
tribe
water

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Durga: It is going in the lane. Even this well is there from the start. You go and ask, I will do this.

Sohail: The water comes in such small space.

Man: The water remains at that same level.

Sohail: At the same level, even when we draw water from the well, it remains at the same level.

Man: Yes, at that level.

Sohail: Does it never decrease?

Durga: It would get filled during the monsoons, right?

Man: During the monsoons the well is full.

Durga: Full.

Man: Yes.

Sohail: Then children would need to be more careful, right?

Man: Yes, but nobody comes around here.

Wasim: Like other well, can't this well be kept covered?

Sohail: It is small.

Man: If there is no water in the tap, then public comes over here.

Durga: If there is no supply of water in the tap, then they come here?

Man: Yes, if the water doesn't come.

Durga: When was the well built?

Man: The well has been there, way before this slum was built.

Durga: Is the water used for drinking?

Man: Earlier, the water was used for drinking.

Durga: Now, they don't?

Man: No, now they don't.

Durga: How long has your house (been) over here?

Man: It has been there from the very beginning.

Durga: Did the well exist then?

Man: It has been there, from the start.

Durga: The well existed from the start. Now are there taps and all over here?

Man: Yes, we have taps.

Durga: Tap is there.

Sohail: The manner in which water comes over there, here...

Man: It doesn't come here.

Sohail: It doesn't. How does the well gets filled? I mean, is there an inlet of water inside?

Man: There is a spring below.
The footage is of a well in Azad Nagar, shot by Wasim, a volunteer of the Aagaz group.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

The residents near the well have let in a turtle and few fish, so that the well is free from bacteria and germs. The turtle and fish eat any bacteria or germs in the water, and also maintain its oxygen levels.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Durga
Jogeshwari
Sohail
Wasim
bacterias
barrels
bathing
fishes
germs
moping
oxygen
storage
tanks
turtle
washing
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail: Is there any connection between the spring, and the spring in the well?

Man: No, this is different and that is different.

Sohail: Nobody drinks water from the spring.

Man: No.

Sohail: Earlier, the well water was used for drinking?

Man: The water from the well was used for drinking. When there were no taps, then.

Sohail: And they do not drink the water from there, since the start?

Man: That is only for using purposes.

Sohail: It is one and the same. The origin of both the spring and the well is from a same mountain, same hill.

Durga: And where does the water in the spring come from?

Man: Nobody has knowledge about that still.

Durga: Some say that a pipeline has gone from there.

Man: Maybe.

Durga: And water?

Man: Some say it is water, some say it is a spring.

Durga: Some say it is the water from the building.

Man: Yes, the water from the building.

Sohail: It means that when there is no water, people use that.

Man: People even use this.

Wasim: And the water is coming before the building was made, right?

Man: It has been coming from the start.

Wasim: So it cannot be the water from the building.

Man: Now, it has been built from the side. Before that, there was nothing.

Sohail: Have you'll put in these fishes? Since when are the fishes in the well?

Man: These fishes come along during monsoons.

Sohail: From up.

Man: No, because of the tides.

Sohail: Before this, do you all have to remove it?

Man: No, it remains like this.

Durga: Now, how do people use this water? Do the people use the water for washing clothes, etc?

Man: Yes, they use it.

Durga: I mean, if nobody uses the well, then well would be completely filled with water.

Man: No, the water remains this much only.

Durga: This much only.

Wasim: Means, that if water accumulates regularly, then the well should have filled, right?

Man: No, it remains the same. Whenever you come. If there is no water in the taps and people come here to get water, the well gets empty. Very little water remains.

Durga: Let's go.
The footage is of a well in Azad Nagar, shot by Wasim, a volunteer of the Aagaz group.

A well is located near the spring, and is actively used by the people of Azad Nagar, as well as people from the neighbouring areas. The well was built eighteen years ago. Earlier, people used to drink as well as use the well water for other purposes. However, the water from the well is currently not used for drinking, although daily activity like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, mopping the house, washing cereals and vegetables, etc, are still carried out with water from the well. Also, there are no restrictions on using the water from the well; everybody can use the well. In the houses adjoining the wells, people do not have storage devices like barrels (drums) or tanks for storing water; they only store the required amount of drinking water.

Shali thinks that the source for the water in the spring and for the water in the well is the same and hence, related. The similarities being that earlier, water from both these sources were used for drinking purposes and it is not.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Durga
Jogeshwari
Sohail
Wasim
barrels
bathing
moping
storage
tanks
washing
well

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail: How clean the river is. During the childhood, you all had came here for bathing.

Durga: Not us. You all bathed here. It comes across from your colour.

Sohail: This is not my area. I heard that you all bathed in the spring and then later bathed in the river. Let's go.

Durga: Wait.

Sohail: See, there is one more spring coming from there.

Durga: This is the daddy of the spring.

Durga: There used to be water in the well before, and people used to take it.

Woman: The water is there.

Durga: The water is there, but it has become dirty now.

Woman: It is nice.

Sohail: Nobody uses the water now.

Woman: It is nice, people still take the water.

Durga: People take the water? But isn't there garbage fallen inside.

Woman: Garbage has fallen in.

Durga: And what about this luggage kept over it?

Woman: Luggage is there.

Durga: Sometimes they take water from here.

(not audible)

Durga: There are two turtles.

Sohail: Where is the turtle? It's garbage everywhere.

Wasim: Now, where is the turtle?

Durga: First see this turtle, then look for another.
We see another well which, based on its condition, appears to no longer be in use, despite the woman in the footage stating that the people still use the water from this well. The clip is shot on the borderline between Azad Nagar and Sanjay Nagar. The majority of the people who live here belong to the Vaddari tribe. The tribe is similar to that of Vaidu tribe. The main occupation of the people of this tribe is making grinding stones, used to make chutneys and grind a variety of spices in households in India. Both, the men and the women belonging to this tribe consume alcohol.
Azad Nagar
Jogeshwari
Sanjay Nagar
Vaddari
Vaidu
chutneys
garbage
grinding
spices
stones
tribe
turtle

Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Wasim, Sohail and Durga, all volunteers of the Aagaz group are about to exit Azad Nagar and walk towards Sanjay Nagar. The narrow lanes are filled with barrels and buckets outside houses, just as in Sanjay Nagar.
Aagaz
Azad Nagar
Durga
Durga: Even this well is here from before, for many years. After this, that well was made. Maybe. Maybe, it had happened this way. They still use it, hence it is nice. And they didn't use this regularly, that is why it has become dirty. But they say that they still use it. Let's go, now we have to meet Nikhil.

Wasim: At Nikhil's house?

Durga: Hey, take my picture.

Wasim: You don't have to pose like this over here.

Durga: Record it, we also need to add a bit of comedy.

Wasim: Yes, we need to add comedy.

Sohail: Record the comedy. Now you just saw the story of water which you heard from Durga, which was completely false. She has told you all fiction and made up stories, and even the well was artificial.

Durga: He is lying. I will catch you and kick you. Move fast otherwise we are going to leave you and go. Record these buckets. Govindi is not there.
Jogeshwari
Nikhil
Sanjay Nagar
Sohail
Wasim
barrels
buckets
dirty
well

Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Wasim, Sohail and Durga, all volunteers of the Aagaz group, are in a narrow lane of Sanjay Nagar. The girl standing next to Durga's leg is her friend; while she appears to be sitting down, she is in fact handicapped. She is fourteen years old.

Boy: Nowadays nobody is looking, hence it comes upon us. The thing is that everything is changing in Mumbai.

Sohail: Even I have changed.

Boy: Now you have become Krish. (an Indian superhero)

Durga: Krish.

Sohail: I never knew I have changed to that extent.

Boy: You are now Krish. As of now, what are you doing?

Sohail: As of now I am doing a shoot, and standing in front of you.

Boy: Even I am sitting in front of you.

Durga: Sitting. You are standing.

Boy: Standing

Sohail: Now we will...

Durga: Now he will act like a hero.

Sohail: (?) the water comes.

Boy: It's a gift from nature. Nobody has built it. God has given that spring water. Water is water. We need to act according to water. It is the one who has created everything in the environment like the spring. Now a pipe has been inserted, the tap can be turned on whenever needed, or closed whenever needed.

Sohail: Why don't do people drink this gift given by the one above?

Boy: Drinking is... They use it. They go, they fill, they drink.

Sohail: Nobody drinks it. We asked people staying nearby, they said that nobody drinks.

Boy: They just say it.

Durga: Earlier, they used to drink.

Boy: Yes, earlier they used to drink; they say, now they don't drink.

Sohail: Now you get Pepsi, cold drink, etc.

Boy: Everything, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Mirinda, A to Z is available.

Sohail: Now who will drink?

Boy: Everything is available. What can one do?

Sohail: Now one drinks Coca-Cola, Pepsi, mineral water which is available.

Boy: That Bisleri for twelve rupees, it's the water from Ganges.

Sohail: You get the water from the Ganges.

Boy: By water from Ganges, I meant that it is considered as Ganges.

Sohail: Oh.

Boy: Water, nectar. What you see here is Suresh Shetty's bungalow.

Sohail: This is Suresh Shetty's bungalow?

Boy: Suresh Shetty - I meant bathroom, we call it bungalow.

Sohail: And Ravindra Waikar's bungalow?

Boy: This is Ravindra Waikar's (not audible). A road will be constructed here and once the road is built, all the slums around here will be moved. The work is in progress as of now. And the remaining is what you can see.

Durga: That's enough.
Sanjay Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Wasim, Sohail and Durga, volunteers of Aagaz group are at a ground in Sanjay Nagar. This ground is used for recreational purposes by children and youth of Sanjay Nagar and neighboring areas. Most of the time one would see the children playing a game of cricket.

Most of the young boys in the footage, have quit studying and work full time. The main reasons for quitting studies is often inability to pay for fees and family circumstances. The highest level of education among these people is till 9th standard. Also these boys are from the Vaidu tribe. The slang word used for public toilet is 'bungalow'. One could also note a meeting place which is built by a local corporator, Ravindra Waikar, for Sanjay Nagar Housing Union.

There is an animated conversation happening between Sohail and a young boy. There is a sarcasm when the boy says that 'Bisleri' - a packaged drinking water company is like water from Ganges.